DGCA new FDTL Guidelines: Aviation regulator DGCA has made several important changes in the rules related to flight duty time limit (FDTL) for flight crew in India. These rules have been in use for more than a decade to manage fatigue-related aviation safety risks.
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Actually, DGCA analyzed the pilot fatigue report as well as pilot roster submitted by the airline operators regarding the fatigue of the pilots flying the aircraft through the data. On the basis of this study and analysis, many major areas that cause fatigue to pilots were identified such as maximum flight duty period, night duty, weekly rest period, flight duty period extension.
This new FDTL regulation has been prepared after extensive data analysis and feedback from various stakeholders, including airline operators, pilot associations and individuals. Worldwide best practices (FAA – USA and EASA – EU) have also been taken into account while amending the rules keeping in mind the specific operating environment in India.
What is special in the new FDTL regulation
more weekly rest time
In the new rules, the flight crew has been ordered to take weekly rest for 48 hours instead of the earlier 36 hours. This will give them more time to rest after weekly duty.
Night duty
The definition of night duty has been revised in the new FDTL rules. Earlier the duty from 12 midnight to 5 am was considered as night duty, which has been revised to 12 midnight to 6 am. By doing night duty till 6 in the morning, one hour of extra rest will be available. This also includes the Window of Circadian Low (WOCL) (2 pm to 6 am), during which the circadian body clock cycle is at its lowest in terms of alertness.
Landing during night
The new FDTL rules take into account different types of operations in different time zones. Maximum flying time and maximum flight duty duration for night flight operations have been restricted to 8 hours flying time and 10 hours flying duty duration respectively and the number of landings has been restricted to only two landings as compared to the maximum permissible 6 landings under the previous Has been done.
Further, DGCA has ordered that all airline operators will submit Quarterly Fatigue Reports after analysis including action taken on such reports. Furthermore, it has been stipulated that Fatigue Report will be non-punitive and adhere to a privacy policy.
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